The Double Directed by: Michael Brandt Starring: Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Martin Sheen Rating: PG-13 Release Date: September 23, 2011
TRAILER SCORE: 6/10
Thoughts by TSR: I feel it necessary to begin with a warning. DO NOT watch this trailer if you wish to know nothing about the plot of The Double. I think there are a number of clues that point to there being more to the film than the seemingly significant revelations its trailer offers, but better safe than sorry.
A solid cast can go a long way towards creating interest in a film I’d previously not heard of. Richard Gere is generally a fine actor, Topher Grace can do good work given the right role and Martin Sheen adds a certain gravitas to most projects he’s involved in. So even though I’d not heard of this until now, I am slightly interested in giving this one a look sometime down the road.
That isn’t to say I think it looks great. I’m sort of obsessive when it comes to keeping up on release dates and such, so the fact I didn’t even know this existed until now is curious. The film does look like a fairly standard entry into the CIA thriller genre. The good news is, though it doesn’t look like it’s doing a whole lot new, it seems like it’ll be a solid, mostly well-done take. The opening segment with an unknown figure carrying out his task is pretty slick and I hope there will be a handful of moments like that to keep things interesting.
There are some rough parts, particularly when Gere is pinning someone down and Grace yells, “Let me talk to her!” to which Gere wildly responds, “Go back to the car and SHUT UP!” Hopefully that scene plays better in context, but Gere does look a bit over-the-top throughout, so we’ll have to wait and see. With first-time director Michael Brandt calling the shots there will be some growing pains, but I’m a fan of 3:10 to Yuma which he had a part in writing, so here’s hoping some of that goodwill carries over.
I wish the trailer hadn’t shown as much as it did, but there’s enough to like that I’m willing to look past it in this case and see what else The Double has to offer.